Fish returning to reef protected zones

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) says fish stocks are being replenished in parts of the reef protected from fishing.

GBRMPA spokesman Mick Bishop says fishers need to be aware of the latest no-fish zones on the reef.

He says early results show the zone restrictions are helping to restore life back into the reef.

"What we've got in the green zones is the goose laying the golden eggs and the golden eggs are going into the areas where people fish," he said.

"The zones were put in to protect what they call the biosecurity of the reefs, but in terms of its impacts on fishing, there's a lot of positives now coming out of it after the loss of a couple of initial areas that caused concern at the time."